While placing himself above Messi in the all-time pecking order, Pele has also suggested that a number of other players sit above the Blaugrana star.

"To compare with Pele, it has to be someone who shoots well with the left, shoots well with the right, and scores headers".

Three-time World Cup victor Pele, 78, is widely acknowledged as among the best - if not the best - to have graced the game, with Diego Maradona often seen as his closest competitor for GOAT status. We talked and I told him: 'In soccer, God gave you a gift, but what you did is what made it hard.

"[Franz] Beckenbauer, [Johan] Cruyff were also excellent players".

Whether or not Messi was better than Pele or Maradona, he remains, without any doubt, one of the best football players in the history of the game.

While Pele may not be Messi's biggest fan, there is no questioning his achievements since bursting onto the scene at Barca.

The forward helped his nation to three World Cups while Messi has never lifted the trophy.